Special Needs Learning Support Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
SEN Learning Support Assistant - Billinghurst
Prospero Teaching are working with a specialist school in Billinghurst, West Sussex, supporting children and young people aged 3-19 with complex neurological motor impairments, including cerebral palsy, as well as additional medical and sensory needs. The school is looking to grow its team with passionate individuals who can provide consistent, high-quality support and help students access learning, build independence, and thrive.
We are looking for Teaching Assistants who:
- Have a caring, patient, and compassionate nature
- Can develop positive, trusting relationships with students
- Bring enthusiasm, positivity and a proactive attitude to their work
- Are flexible and confident working within a structured, supportive setting
- Recognise and celebrate small steps of progress and achievement
- Are comfortable supporting with personal care and physical needs where required
Contract details:
- Location - Billinghurst, West Sussex
- Position - SEN Teaching Assistant
- Start date - ASAP
- Contract type - Long term supply or temp to perm
- Duration - Ongoing
- Full time - Full time role
- Minimum rate of pay - £14.25 per hour
Eligibility:
- Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths (GCSE)
- A patient, nurturing, and consistent approach
- Strong communication skills and a team-focused mindset
- Dependable, motivated, and able to take initiative
- Previous SEN or care experience is beneficial but not essential
What you'll get:
- Free CPD, including safeguarding, SEN awareness, and manual handling training
- Ongoing support from an experienced and dedicated team
- Opportunity to gain valuable experience in a specialist education setting
Please note: you must register with Prospero Teaching to be considered for this role.
Apply now with your updated CV to express your interest.
Referrals welcome - recommend a friend and receive £150.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight any direct SEN or care experience at the top of your CV — the advert lists it as a key differentiator even though it is not essential, so even voluntary or informal experience counts.
📊 Quantify your impact where possible: "Supported 4 students with complex physical needs across daily learning sessions, contributing to measurable progress in communication targets."
🎯 Mention safeguarding knowledge explicitly — the advert lists safeguarding CPD as a benefit, signalling it is a priority; note any existing Level 1 or Level 2 safeguarding certificates you hold.
🤝 Reference experience supporting students aged 3-19 or working in specialist/SEND settings, as the school specifically serves this wide age range with complex neurological and sensory needs.
📋 Include your GCSE English and Maths grades (C/4 or above) clearly in your education section — the advert lists this as an explicit eligibility requirement that will be screened at application stage.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Delivered one-to-one and small group learning support to 6 students with complex SEN needs including cerebral palsy, enabling 4 students to meet their termly independence targets.
- •Completed CPD training in safeguarding, manual handling, and SEN awareness, applying techniques daily to maintain the safety and dignity of students with physical and sensory needs.
- •Supported personal care routines for 3 students with neurological motor impairments across a full-time timetable, maintaining detailed progress notes reviewed weekly by the class teacher.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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Letter preview — tailored to Prospero Teaching
Dear Hiring Manager,
Prospero Teaching's placement at the specialist school in Billingshurst is exactly the kind of role I have been seeking — supporting children and young people aged 3-19 with complex neurological motor impairments, including cerebral palsy, requires the patient, consistent approach and genuine commitment to celebrating small steps of progress that I bring to every setting. I am confident in providing personal care support and hold a current safeguarding awareness certificate.
My background in supporting individuals with additional needs has equipped me with the practical skills to help students access learning and build independence within a structured environment. I understand the importance of building trusting relationships with young people who have sensory and physical needs, and I am comfortable adapting my approach to meet each student's individual requirements.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you adapt a learning activity for a student with cerebral palsy who has limited fine motor control?
- ›What manual handling techniques have you used or been trained in when supporting students with physical disabilities?
- ›How do you approach personal care tasks with a young person to maintain their dignity and independence?
- ›Describe how you would use visual or sensory aids to support a student with both neurological and sensory needs.
- ›What strategies would you use to help a student with complex needs build independence in a structured classroom environment?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you supported someone with a physical or learning need — what did you do and what was the outcome?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to remain calm and patient under pressure when working with a challenging individual.
- ›Give an example of when you recognised and celebrated a small step of progress in someone you were supporting.
- ›Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team to deliver consistent support — how did you communicate and coordinate?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to be flexible and adapt quickly to a change in someone's needs or routine.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you supported someone with a physical or learning need — what did you do and what was the outcome?
Describe a situation where you had to remain calm and patient under pressure when working with a challenging individual.
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